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The Standard Construction Continues as Students Move In & Settle Into Spring Semester

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A construction worker walks the sidewalk of The Standard of Boone that’s fronting Blowing Rock Road on Monday. Photo by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

As Appalachian State University’s spring semester began on Tuesday, staff with Boone Planning and Inspections were on the site of The Standard at Boone mixed-use development.

While a full Certificate of Occupancy has yet to be granted, all the students were allowed to move in last month because the town issued a temporary CO. A full Certificate of Occupancy has yet to be granted. 

“In fact, since [the issuance of the temporary CO] many students have already settled into their apartments, and we are eager to continue welcoming residents to their new homes as they return to App State for the beginning of the spring semester,” Cody Nicholson, spokesman for The Standard, said in a statement.

The most recent review from a tenant on the company’s Facebook page reads: “The delay seems worth it – got bumped up to the next level of accommodation (same price) because 1st floor apt is incomplete. Staff at leasing office very helpful and understanding – especially with move-in during holiday rush.”

Nicholson noted that an on-site leasing center is opening this week. On the company’s website, The Standard recently thanked tenants for “sticking with us” and advertised a special rate for those that renew their lease beginning on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Nicholson said that plans to announce commercial partners do not exist at this time.

On Tuesday, Boone Manager John Ward said that planning staff was on site because full Certificate of Occupancy hadn’t yet been achieved: “They are currently seeking a CO for Building A, the large building on Blowing Rock Road and will continue to work on Building B, on Faculty St.”

On Wednesday, Ward provided an update from Tuesday’s inspection: “On Tuesday, the Town of Boone Planning & Inspections staff conducted inspections at The Standard. While a large number of items were checked and approved there were also some remaining non-safety related items that have not been completed. Crews continue to address these items at The Standard and a full Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until all local UDO and other conditions that were tied to the approval are satisfied.”

The Standard of Boone is a mixed-use development featuring more than 560 beds, a 155,000-square-foot parking deck with about 500 spaces and 12,600 square feet of commercial space fronting Blowing Rock Road. Building A is a five-story mixed-use building that wraps around the parking deck, and Building B serves as residential building that is located across the daylighted creek and is accessed by pedestrian bridge.

The project is being built on formerly blighted stretch of property that used to consist of several old houses, apartment complexes and hotels, including the rundown Red Carpet Inn and condemned Scottish Inn. According to documents submitted to the Boone Planning and Inspections office, the project is estimated to cost $42 million.

Demolition of those structures began in January 2015. The Standard planned on opening before the 2016 fall semester. 

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